Buddy Ebsen
Biography
Buddy Ebsen was an American actor and dancer who started in vaudeville and on Broadway before finding fame in two long-running television series. Born in Belleville, Illinois, in 1908 and raised partly in Florida, he learned to dance at a studio his father operated. He performed as a dancer in vaudeville and on Broadway in Whoopee, Flying Colors, and Ziegfeld Follies of 1934. He made his film debut in Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935) and danced with Shirley Temple in Captain January (1936). He was cast as the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz (1939) but left the production and was replaced by Jack Haley. He played Davy Crockett's companion George Russell in Walt Disney's Davy Crockett miniseries, then became famous as Jed Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies, which ran from 1962 to 1971, and as the title detective on Barnaby Jones, which ran from 1973 to 1980. He was inducted as a Disney Legend in 1993.
95years old at death
- Born Belleville
- Died Torrance
- Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19
- Also credited as Christian Ludolf Ebsen, Jr. and Christian Rudolph Ebsen, Jr.
Movie Career
- Films
- 16
- Career span
- 58 years1935 to 1993
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A role that slipped away
In the 1939 MGM film The Wizard of Oz, Ebsen was originally cast as the Scarecrow, but he traded parts with Ray Bolger, who had been set to play the Tin Man; Ebsen had no objection to the switch.
A role that slipped away
Louis B. Mayer offered Ebsen an exclusive MGM contract, but Ebsen rejected it. Mayer then warned him that Hollywood would never employ him again.
A change of course
In the summer of 1928, Ebsen left Orlando for New York City, hoping to make it as a dancer. He got there with just $26.75 and took a job at a soda fountain shop.
Own stunts
Walt Disney picked Ebsen to dance in front of a grid, and the footage helped animators draw Mickey Mouse's dancing in the Silly Symphonies shorts released from 1929 to 1939.
Languages
Ebsen's Midwestern accent survives in some reprises of "We're Off to See the Wizard" on the soundtrack, and his Tin Man solo "If I Only Had a Heart" appears on the deluxe edition.
Buddy Ebsen movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier1955 Adventure, Drama, Familyas George Russel
IMDb rating 6.85.7K votes
Most often with
Norman Foster directed two of these films, Roy Del Ruth two. Eleven actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Broderick Crawford's page
Hank Worden's page
Kenneth Tobey's page
Audrey Hepburn's page
Una Merkel's page
Peter van Eyck's page
All films by Norman Foster
Roy Del RuthDirector, 2 films, 1935 to 1936
All films by Roy Del Ruth
Also two films together5 more actors
- William BakewellDavy Crockett and the River Pirates (1956) and Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier (1955)
- Fess ParkerDavy Crockett and the River Pirates (1956) and Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier (1955)
- Eleanor PowellBorn to Dance (1936) and Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
- Frances LangfordBorn to Dance (1936) and Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
- Sid SilversBorn to Dance (1936) and Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Awards
Two awards and honors.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 1993 | Disney Legends | Honored | |
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.